GEORGE Osborne was plunged into a row last night after he was accused of trying to sit in a first class rail carriage with a standard class ticket.

ITV News reporter Rachel Townsend claimed that one of the Chancellor’s aides begged a train manager to waive the extra fee because “he couldn’t possibly sit in standard class.”

She alleged that Mr Osborne was told he would have to pay £160 for an upgrade.

But Mr Osborne’s office denied any attempt to avoid the full first class fare and said he willingly paid £189.50 to cover an upgrade for himself and an assistant.

Mr Osborne was travelling to London on a two-hour Virgin Trains service from Wilmslow in Cheshire, part of his Tatton constituency, when the ITV journalist – sitting nearby – began posting claims on Twitter.

Ms Townsend tweeted: “Chancellor George Osborne just got on at Wilmslow with a STANDARD ticket and sat in FIRST CLASS.”

She told ITV: “George Osborne got on the train with aides and went straight to first class. His aide approached the ticket collector right next to me.

The aide said Osborne couldn’t possibly sit in standard class. The guard replied saying if he wants to stay it’s £160

ITV News reporter Rachel Townsend

“He said he is travelling with George and he has a standard ticket but can he remain in first class? The guard said no. The aide said Osborne couldn’t possibly sit in standard class. The guard replied saying if he wants to stay it’s £160. The aide said he couldn’t pay and he couldn’t really sit in standard. The guard refused to budge. The guard later told me Osborne had agreed to cough up the £160.”

But a statement from Virgin Trains backed up the Chancellor’s version of events.

The company said: “As soon as the train left Wilmslow an aide went to find the train manager to explain the situation and arrange to pay for an upgrade.

“It was agreed that the Chancellor would remain in first class and £189.50 was paid by the aide to cover the upgrade for Mr Osborne and his PA.

“The situation was dealt with amicably. At no time was there a disagreement or a refusal to pay for the upgrade. Nor was there any discussion between the train manager and Mr Osborne.”

A spokesman for Mr Osborne added: “The Chancellor got a different train than planned due to diary change following a series of meetings in his constituency.

“As he had no seat reservation on the new train, which was crowded, he decided to upgrade – and obviously intended and was happy to pay.”

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